Portable Tool and Work Management Data Collection System

ABSTRACT

A work management data collection system  1  is provided with a data collection mechanism in a tool  2 , and by counting a number of times a work operation has been executed or the like, obtains a work data identifying the work task that has been executed and detects a time data required for the work task. The system is provided with an RFID tag  3   a  on an ID card  3  held by a worker, and by writing data into the ID card  3  of the worker who carried out the work task, using an RFID reader/writer  4  provided on the tool  2 , the system obtains data necessary for the work management from the ID card  3  of the worker.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tool (portable tool) used at aconstruction site or the like, and a work management data collectionsystem employing the tool. More particularly, the invention relates tothe acquisition of data necessary for work management relevant to thetool used by a worker, thereby allowing such data to be collectedautomatically.

BACKGROUND ART

In the construction industry and the like, there have been efforts forintroducing work management software which employs a method such as CPM(Critical Pass Method) for optimizing the allocation of human andmaterial resources etc. (for example, JP-A-11-193631).

The work management software requires inputs of data indicating anallocation of human and material resources, and conventionally, thoseefforts to collect data and to input the collected data have beencarried out manually.

The use of the work management software allows the resource allocationto be done automatically. However, the collection of data and input ofthe collected data are conventionally done manually, thus there has beena problem that it requires a large amount of time for the allocation ofresources using the work management software. As a result, an applicablerange of the work management software has become very small, so thatthere has been a problem that it was not fully utilized.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the invention provide a tool and a workmanagement data collection system capable of automatically acquiringdata necessary for the work management.

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, a tool (portabletool) which is operated by a worker in order to carry out a work task isprovided with: a work data acquisition unit obtaining a work data whichspecifies the work task to be carried out; a storage unit storing thework data acquired by the work data acquisition unit; a clocking unitfor clocking a working time; a read and write unit reading and writingdata from and to an external data storage unit which is independent fromthe body of the tool; and a controller which reads out a workeridentification data to identify the worker using the read and write unitfrom an ID card of the worker, which carries the external data storageunit, and at the same time, writes the work data stored in the storageunit and the working time data clocked by the clocking unit into theexternal data storage unit of the ID card of the worker who has beenidentified by the worker identification data, using the read and writeunit.

Furthermore, according to one or more embodiments of the invention, thetool contains a consumable supply used during works, and it may comprisea consumable supply container which can be freely attached to andremoved from the body the tool, and a consumable supply data storageunit, as the external data storage unit, storing a consumable supplyidentification data identifying a type of the consumable supply and aconsumable supply quantity data. The controller reads out the consumablesupply identification data and the consumable supply quantity data usingthe read and write unit to identify the type of the consumable supply,and to take note of a quantity of the consumable supply prior to thestart of a work task, and calculates a remaining quantity of theconsumable supply left within the consumable supply container, from thequantity of the consumable supply consumed as a result of carrying outthe work task, and writes the remaining quantity of the consumablesupply into the consumable supply data storage unit of the consumablesupply container, using the read and write unit.

According to one or more of embodiments of the invention, the externaldata storage unit may be one mounted on a wireless tag wirelesslytransmitting and receiving data, and the read and write unit may be onewhich reads and writes data through wireless communications.

According to one or more embodiment of the invention, the portable toolmay be a screwing machine.

According to one or more embodiment of the invention, the portable toolmay be a nailing machine.

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, in a workmanagement data collection system collecting data necessary for workmanagement, a tool operated by a worker in order to carry out a worktask is provided with; a work data acquisition unit for obtaining a workdata which identifies a work task that has been carried out; a storageunit storing the work data obtained by the work data acquiring unit; aclocking unit clocking a working time; a read and write unit reading andwriting from and to an external data storage unit separate from the bodyof the tool; and a controller writing the work data stored in thestorage unit and the working time data clocked by the clocking unit intothe external data storage unit on an ID card of a worker who has beenidentified by a worker identification data; wherein any data necessaryfor the work management is captured from the ID card of the worker.

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the tool maycomprise a consumable supply container which contains a consumablesupply used during a work task, and can be freely attached to, andremoved from the body of the tool, and a consumable supply data storageunit, as the external data storage unit, storing a consumable supplyidentification data identifying a type of the consumable supply and aconsumable supply quantity data. The controller reads out the consumablesupply identification data and the consumable supply quantity data fromthe consumable supply data storage unit of the consumable supplycontainer using the read and write unit to identify a type of theconsumable supply and to recognize the quantity of the consumable supplyprior to the start of the work task, and calculates a remaining quantityof the consumable supply left within the consumable supply containerfrom a quantity of the consumable supply used as a result of carryingout the work task, and writes the remaining quantity data of theconsumable supply into the consumable data storage unit of theconsumable supply container using the read and write unit.

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the external datastorage unit may be one mounted on a wireless tag wirelesslytransmitting and receiving data, and the read and write unit may be onewhich reads and writes data through wireless communications.

Using the tool according to one or more embodiments of the invention, byhaving workers carry out their work tasks, it is possible to collectdata necessary for work management such as types of work tasks carriedout and working times etc.

Using the work management data collection system according to one ormore embodiments of the invention, by obtaining data necessary for workmanagement using the tool, and writing them into ID cards of workers, itis possible to obtain the data necessary for the work management fromthe ID cards of the respective workers.

In this way, the collection of data and input of the collected data andthe like may be performed automatically, so that the time required forthe resource allocation may be reduced drastically through the use ofthe work management software.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary work management datacollection system according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an exemplary configurationof the tool and the work management data collection system according toone embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a flow of steps of the work managementdata collection system according to the embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS

1: Work management data collection system, 2: Tool, 3: ID card, 3 a:RFID tag, 4: RFID reader/writer, 5: Magazine, 5 a: RFID tag, 6: Antenna,7: IC chip, 7 a: Memory, 8: Antenna, 9: IC chip, 9 a: Memory, 10:Antenna, 11: IC chip, 12: Drive mechanism, 12 a: Motor, 13: Controller,14: CPU, 15: Memory, 16: Timer

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the tool and the work management data collection systemaccording to the invention will now be explained with reference to thefigures.

<Outline of the Tool and the Work Management Data Collection System>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the work management datacollection system according to one embodiment. The work management datacollection system 1 of the embodiment comprises a data collectingfunction in the tool (portable tool) 2, and by counting a number oftimes the work operation has been executed, detects a time data requiredfor the work task, as well as obtaining a work data identifying the worktask carried out.

An ID card 3 held by a worker comprises an RFID tag (wireless tag) 3 a,and by writing the data into the ID card 3 of the worker who carried outthe work task, using an RFID reader/writer provided on the tool 2, thedata necessary for work management may be obtained from the ID card 3 ofthe worker.

<Exemplary Configuration of the Tool and the Work Management DataCollection System>

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an exemplary configurationof the tool and the work management data collection system according toone embodiment. The tool 2 is, for example, a screwing machineperforming a screwing work, provided with a magazine 5 dispensablyholding screws, not shown in the figure. The tool may also be a nailingmachine, for example.

The magazine 5 is one example of the consumable supply container whichis configured so that it can be attached to and removed from the tool 2,and it comprises an RFID tag (wireless tag) 5 a. The RFID tag 5 acomprises an antenna 6 and an IC chip 7, and it wirelessly transmitsdata stored within a memory 7 a of the IC chip 7 from the antenna 6, andstores data received by the antenna 6 into the memory 7 a of the IC chip7.

The memory 7 a of the RFID tag 5 a is one example of a consumable supplydata storage unit (consumable supply data storage device), and in thisexample, it stores a type of screws held in the magazine 5 as theconsumable supply identification data, as well as a number of the screwsheld as the quantity data.

The RFID tag 3 a provided on the ID card 3 has a similar configuration,and the RFID tag 3 a comprises an antenna 8 and an IC chip 9, andtransmits data stored within a memory 9 a of the IC chip 9 from theantenna 8, and stores data received by the antenna 8 into the memory 9 aof the IC chip 9.

The memory 9 a of the RFID tag 3 a is one example of a external datastorage unit (external data storage device), and in this example, itstores an ID code or the like given to each worker as the workeridentification data. It also stores work starting/finishing times as theworking time data. It further stores, as the work data, a type of thetool 2 and a number of times the work operation has been executed, inthis example, an actual number of times screws have been dispensed etc.

The RFID reader/writer 4 provided on the tool 2 is one example of a readand write unit (read and write device), and it reads and writes datafrom and to the RFID tag 5 a of the magazine 5 and the RFID tag 3 a ofthe ID card 3 held by the worker.

The RFID reader/writer 4 comprises an antenna 10 and an IC chip 11 etc.,and when, for example, a magazine 5 is attached to the tool 2, the RFIDtag 5 a and the RFID reader/writer come into a positional relationshipwhich allows communication therebetween, and writing and reading of datato and from the RFID tag 5 a are performed via wireless communications.

When the ID card 3 is brought into a proximity of the tool 2 until theRFID tag 3 a of the ID card 3 and the RFID reader/writer 4 come into apositional relationship which allows communication therebetween, writingand reading of data to and from the RFID tag 3 a are performed viawireless communications.

The tool 2 comprises a drive mechanism 12 performing the screwingoperation and a controller 13 controlling the drive mechanism 12 etc.The drive mechanism 12 comprises a motor 12 a and the like as a drivingsource of the screwing operation, and it performs an operation todispense screws one by one from the magazine 5 and to drive in thescrews which have been dispensed.

The controller 13 comprises a CPU 14, a memory (the storage device) 15such as a RAM and the like, and a timer (clocking device) 16. The CPU 14is one example of a work data acquisition unit (work data acquisitiondevice) and a controller (control device), and when a trigger lever, notshown, is operated, it starts the motor 12 a to perform the screwingoperation.

CPU 14 then counts the actual number of times screws have beendispensed, and stores it, as an actual number of screws used, into thememory 15, which is one example of the storage unit. The CPU 14 furthercalculates a remaining number of screws left within the magazine 5,which decreases as the screwing operation progresses.

The counting of the actual number of screws used is performed upondetecting a manipulation of an actuating part, not shown, for performingthe screwing operation, or upon detecting a specified operation invokedby driving the motor 12 a for performing the screwing operation.

Furthermore, the CPU 14 detects a work starting time and a workfinishing time by the timer 16 which is one example of the clockingunit.

<Exemplary Operation of the Work Management Data Collection System>

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a flow of steps of the work managementdata collection system according to the embodiment. The operations ofthe work management data collection system which uses the tool 2according to the embodiment will now be explained.

Step SA1: A worker turns on the power of the tool 2.

Step SA2: The CPU 14 of the tool 2 determines whether or not the RFIDreader/writer 4 detected an RFID tag 3 a of an ID card 3 as a result ofthe presence of the ID card 3 of a worker within a communication rangecovered by the RFID reader/writer 4.

It is preferable, that the RFID reader/writer 4 and the ID card 3 willcome into their communication range when, for example, the workerwearing the ID card 3 holds the tool 2 in his hands, however, aconfiguration which requires the ID card 3 to be held close to the RFIDreader/writer 4 at the start or the end of the works is also possible.

Step SA3: The CPU 14 of the tool 2, when the RFID reader/writer 4recognizes the ID card 3, starts communication using the RFIDreader/writer 4, and reads out the worker identification data (ID code)from the RFID tag 3 a of the ID card 3 to identify the worker.

When the worker is found to be a legitimate one, the drive mechanism 12is placed into an operational state. In this way, any persons other thanlegitimate workers cannot operate the tool 2, and therefore, an antitheft measure may be implemented.

Furthermore, the CPU 14 of the tool 2 clears the data of the actualnumber of screws used, which has been stored within the memory 15. Byhaving the data cleared from the memory 15, the number of screws usedcan be recorded only during the working time.

Step SA4: The CPU 14 of the tool 2 determines whether or not the RFIDreader/writer 4 recognized an RFID tag 5 a of a magazine 5 as a resultof the magazine 5 being equipped, and the presence of the RFID tag 5 aof the magazine 5 within a communication range covered by the RFIDreader/writer 4.

Step SA5: The CPU 14 of the tool 2, when the RFID reader/writerrecognizes the RFID tag 5 a of the magazine 5, starts communicationusing the RFID reader/writer 4 to read out a screw type data and a screwquantity data from the RFID tag 5 a of the magazine 5.

Step SA6: The CPU 14 of the tool 2 detects a time using the timer 16,and communicates using the RFID reader/writer 4 to write the workstarting time into the RFID tag 3 a of the ID card 3.

Step SA7: The CPU 14 of the tool 2, when the screwing trigger isoperated, starts counting the actual number of screws used. The actualnumber of screws used is stored within the memory 15.

Step SA8: The worker finishes the works by turning off the power of thetool 2 or the like.

Step SA9: The CPU 14 of the tool 2, when it determines that the worktask has been finished by detecting the power-off state or the like,detects a time using the timer 16, and communicates using the RFIDreader/writer 4 to write the work finishing time into the RFID tag 3 aof the ID card 3. The screw type data and the actual number of screwsused which have been stored within the memory 15 are also written intothe RFID tag 3 a of the ID card 3.

Step SA10: The CPU 14 of the tool 2 calculates a remaining screwquantity within the magazine 5 after the work task is done, from thescrew quantity data as read out from the RFID tag 5 a of the magazine 5and the actual number of screws used which was stored within the memory15 as the work task was executed. It communicates using the RFIDreader/writer 4 to writes the remaining quantity data as a new quantitydata into the RFID tag 5 a of the magazine 5.

In the above explained operations, the work starting/finishing times,the type of tool 2 used for the works, the type of screws used and thenumber of times screwing was done are recorded.

In this way, by downloading the data on the ID card 3 of the worker intoa computer on which the work management software is installed, thosedata necessary for the work management may be obtained automatically.

Furthermore, since the remaining quantity of screws is recorded for eachsingle magazine, it is possible to exchange the magazines 5 in themiddle of works in order to change the types of screws.

In a case where the tool 2 is a screwing machine etc., the ability toobtain, through the ID card 3, the data of the actual number of screwsused allows the estimation of the actual hours required for completingthe work task, from the frequency of the screwing operations per a unittime, so that it is also applicable to a working hour management.

Since the work starting/finishing times may be obtained through the IDcard 3, it is possible to calculate an operating time of the each tool2. In this way, it is possible to estimate the wear-out degree of thecomponents in the tool 2, and to obtain data for repair.

Furthermore, the tool 2 has been explained as being an electric toolsuch as screwing machine, nailing machine etc. which uses electricity asits driving source, however, it may be any tool such as one which usesair or combustion gas as its driving source as long as it comprises ameans for detecting actual number of a consumable supply used, and apower supply for its control system.

In addition, a portable tool means a tool which may be moved or carried,and the term excludes any large-scale machine tool facility installed ina plant or the like in largely a stationary manner.

The invention has been explained in detail with reference to particularembodiments, however it is apparent for a person skilled in the art thatvarious modification and changes are possible without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

The present application is based on the Patent Application No.2005-038186 filed on Feb. 15, 2005 the contents of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the invention isapplicable to a system which performs resource allocation using the workmanagement software at a construction site or the like where a largenumber of workers are working using electric tools etc.

1. A portable tool comprising; a work data acquisition device configuredto obtain a work data which identifies a work task that has beenperformed; a storage device configured to store the work data obtainedby the work data acquisition device; a clocking device configured toclock a working time; a read and write device configured to read andwrite data into an external data storage device which is independentfrom the portable tool; and a control device configured to identify aworker by reading out a worker identification data using the read andwrite device, and write the work data stored on the storage device and aworking time data clocked by the clocking device into the external datastorage device using the read and write device.
 2. The portable toolaccording to in claim 1, wherein the external data storage devicecomprises an ID card of the worker, and the control device writes thework data and the working time data into the ID card of the workeridentified by the worker identification data using the read and writedevice.
 3. The portable tool according to claim 1, further comprising; aconsumable supply container which contains a consumable supply usedduring the work task, and which can freely be attached to and removedfrom the body of the portable tool; wherein the external data storagedevice comprises a consumable supply data storage device provided on theconsumer supply container, the consumable supply data storage devicestoring a consumable supply identification data identifying a type ofthe consumable supply and a consumable supply quantity data; the controldevice identifies the type of the consumable supply by reading out theconsumable supply identification data and the consumable supply quantitydata using the read and write device, the control device recognizes thequantity of the consumable supply before the work task is carried out,the control device calculates a remaining quantity of the consumablesupply left within the consumable supply container from a number of theconsumable supply used while the work task is carried out, and thecontrol device writes the remaining quantity data of the consumablesupply into the consumable supply data storage device of the consumablesupply container using the read and write device.
 4. The portable toolaccording to claim 1, wherein the external data storage device comprisesa wireless tag which transmits and receives data wirelessly, and theread and write device reads and writes data through wirelesscommunications.
 5. The portable tool according to claim 1, wherein theportable tool is a screwing machine.
 6. The portable tool according toclaim 1, wherein the portable tool is a nailing machine.
 7. A workmanagement data collection system for collecting data necessary for workmanagement of work tasks, wherein a portable tool used for the worktasks comprises: a work data acquisition device configured to obtain awork data which identifies a work task that has been performed; astorage device configured to store the work data obtained by the workdata acquisition device; a clocking device configured to clock a workingtime; a read and write device configured to read and write the data intoan external data storage device which is independent from the portabletool; and a control device configured to identify a worker by readingout a worker identification data using the read and write device, andwrite the work data stored on the storage device and the working timedata clocked by the clocking device into the external data storagedevice using the read and write device.